Team members

Neil joined the Team in 1985 and his day job is Roads Policing Officer with Cumbria Constabulary. This overlaps into his particular roles with the Team where he assists with the Team Land Rovers on the Equipment Committee and helps out with the driving skills and assessments. His favourite mountain region is the Lake District, especially Ullswater, and his favourite piece of kit is a “good and comfy pair of boots for all weathers.”

Mike works for the children’s charity, Action for Children and he joined Patterdale MRT in 2000 after being a member of the Kirkby Stephen and Dartmoor Rescue teams in the past. Mike is Deputy Chair of Trustees as well as being an advanced first aider and a search dog handler. His SARDA dog, Comet, died at the end of 2008 but Mike is currently training Moss to be a graded search dog in future. Mike’s favourite mountain area is the Lake District and his favourite piece of kit is his GPS: “I find it so helpful to help me navigate, especially when out with the dog.”

Glenn joined the Team as a probationer in September 2008 and became a full member in March 2010. He was previously a graphic display artist but has now developed in a completely different direction as he builds horse trial fences and courses. Glenn enjoys many mountain areas around the world but his first love is the Lake District. Asked about his favourite piece of kit, Glenn enjoys planning walks on his GPS and finds it a very useful piece of kit … as long as it doesn’t let him down!

Anna works outdoors too as a leader with the Field Studies Council. She became a full member of the Team in May 2007 and has the unofficial role of increasing the amount of smiling that goes on in the Team. Her favourite mountain is probably Helvellyn (there’s a surprise!) and her favourite bit of personal kit is something tasty to eat and drink at the top – “preferably a triangle of the millionaire’s shortbread from Patterdale Post Office.”

Team Leader, Martin, runs a renewable energy company that installs solar and wind energy systems around the UK. He joined the team in 1998 and lists an oxygen sack as his favourite piece of equipment – “oxygen can make a huge difference to a seriously injured casualty.” On favourite mountains, Martin has had great trips to the Alps but “the outstanding trips in recent years have been to Spitsbergen.”

(Probationer Dec2008) Russ got involved with the Team in August 2008. He is also the Helm of the lake rescue boat based at Outward Bound Ullswater where he works as an Instructor. His favourite mountain region is the Hardangar Plateau and Rjukan Valley in Norway – “a true winter wonderland”. Russ values his sleep – his favourite equipment items are a down sleeping bag, bivvi bag and Thermarest: “There’s nothing like getting into a cosy sleeping bag after a hard day on the hill and then waking up in some remote and beautiful location.”

Chris got involved with the Team in February 2008 and he works part-time at Eden Citizens Advice Bureau as well as being a member of the Employment Tribunals service over in the northeast. He loves Blencathra and any gritstone climbs and his favourite piece of kit is an unbreakable flask: “I dropped mine in winter conditions off Great End over a decade ago and it’s still going strong.”

(Probationer Dec2008) Sarah got involved with the Team in June 2008 and she is an academic (subject: English) and education consultant. Her favourite mountain, Blencathra, lies just to the north of the Patterdale patch and her favourite piece of kit is her Marmot Driclime jacket – “usually on my back or in my bag whatever I’m doing – it’s light, breathable and versatile.”

John joined the Team in 1986 and works as a local GP in Penrith. As well as being a Patterdale Team Medical Officer, he is also a member of the Medical Commission of the International Commission for Alpine Rescue and Medical Officer for Mountain Rescue (England and Wales). John’s favourite mountain region is the Valais of Switzerland and nothing matches sesame seed snaps in his sack – “nothing seems quite as bad when you start munching them and the energy comes back into your legs.”

Dan joined the Team in 1998 and he is a Trustee as well as being Team Secretary. His day job is based in the south of the region, where he’s the System Development Manager for the Morecambe Bay Health Informatics Service. He loves Knoydart and Ladhar Bheinn in the Highlands of Scotland and his favourite piece of kit is his GPS – “I’d be lost without it!”

Dave joined the Team in 1981 after moving to Cumbria from the South of England. He served as Team Leader for 17 years and has only recently retired from that post - but he continues as a Deputy Leader. Dave’s favourite Alpine mountain regions are the Italian Dolomites and the Valais canton of Switzerland. Dave considers his best bit of kit is a Goretex bivi bag, which he tries to purposely leave behind as often as possible so that he doesn’t need to bivi!

Jacquie joined the Team in 1982. Her main duty as base controller is to look after the control room radio communications during a rescue. She is an enthusiastic member of the fundraising committee. Jacquie is a director of a graphics company and in her spare time runs a Bed and breakfast business. She ‘saw the light’ many years ago and moved to the North from London. Jacquie feels very privileged to live in her favorite mountain area, the English Lake District. Her favorite piece of rescue equipment is the Landrover Ambulance, she has always had her own Land Rover and thinks they are the ultimate in off road capability.

Ray first got involved with the Team in January 1976 although his first experience of rescue involved abseiling off the Idwal slabs in North Wales to rescue a climber some time in the 1960s! He is allegedly retired (from work and from being a Deputy Leader on the Team) but he has part-time jobs in outdoor retail and as a First Aid trainer and he also represents the Lake District within Mountain Rescue (England and Wales). His favourite mountain region is the Bernese Oberland – “the first ski run of the day off the Lauberhorn with the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau in full view”. His favourite pieces of equipment are his ice axes – “when we get some winter to use them in” – and his camera.

Ian joined the Team is 1996 and was one of the Control Room staff until 2006. He has remained on the Team on a non-call-out basis since he passed his 75 years milestone. Ian is a licensed Hon Assistant Bishop in Cumbria (Carlisle Diocese) which comes in very useful for rescue boat dedications (see Equipment).

Alastair is Licencee at the White Lion Inn in Patterdale and he first got involved with the Team in March 2008. He spends 80% of his time at work cooking and loves the Alps in particular. He doesn’t have a favourite piece of equipment but will carry anything up anything: “I just enjoy being out on the fells.”

Tim joined the team in about 1993 and he is currently the communications officer and Chairman of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Association. He works as a training consultant with various companies and he can’t decide between two favourite mountain areas – the Ullswater valley and the Schwarzwald or Black Forest of Germany. His favourite piece of kit is his bright orange bumbag – “I don’t mind what I have to carry in the mountains but the lighter the better.”

Gillian Mininch joined the Team in 1997 and she is active on both the PR and the fundraising committees. Gillian is a recruitment manager for HF Holidays, recruiting the guides for their walking holidays from a base near Penrith and her favourite mountains are around the Angus Glens, her stomping ground while growing up. Her favourite piece of equipment for a day on the hills is a friend to carry the heavy stuff!

Theo joined the Team in 1992 and is one of the two Medical Officers (with John Ellerton). As well as being a GP based in Penrith, Theo is also an immediate response doctor and associated with the Air Ambulance. His favourite mountain is local to Patterdale - Heughscar Hill above Roehead at Pooley Bridge - and his favourite piece of equipment is a pair of walking sticks - “As I get older, they keep me going longer!”

Jon became a full member of the Team early in 2010. His day job is in Ambleside, working for the youth development charity, the Brathay Trust. His choice for essential piece of kit would be merino wool base layers: “They’re comfortable, wick well and - unlike man-made fibres - aren’t inclined to see me sitting alone at a table if I’m still wearing my hill clothes in the pub at the end of the day!” Jon doesn’t have a favourite mountain area but anywhere that combines inspiring views and good company with either dry rock or fast single track (for mountain biking) is likely to be on his list.